Sprinkler



March 1, 1932. w MCARDLE I 1,847,406

SPRINKLER Filed June 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l ECU/8711679, Jae/Mae!Z/Jflfird Ce I J L W F/MW/S.

March 1, 1932. M. w. MCARD 1,847,406

SPRINKLER Filed June 11, 1927 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 .EJGEZEW: 115m; ZMM-flmma190 M 1 wyw Patented Mar. 1, 1932 MIoiiAnL w. McAnnLE,

s PATENT FFieE .m imm...

for CHICAGO, I LINOIS SPRINKLER Application filed June 11,

The. presentinvention-relates to sprinklers, ;being' more particularlyconcerned with sprinklers adaptedtobe used for distributingfertilizerby-using ater as. a vehicle for this 5 'purpos qQn eAof theobjects of my inventionis the provision of .a sprinkler having areservoir .ajclapted to ,receive a solvent or semis-solid fertilizer, asprinkler head in communica- .-tion with said reservoir for the purpose{of receiving and distributing thefertilizer carried by the water, andmeans interposed between said sprinkler head and reservoir to prevent:aecess'to the sprinkler head of solid particles of the fertilizerofsuch size as might clogthe sp in ler head.

Another-object of my invention isthe pro- .viSiOnof asprinkler of theclass described in eluding a reservoir with a quick-detachable cover,means forsubstantially equalizing the .axial'pressure on such sprinklerhead to re- .ducethe friction of rotation, and means for locking thesprinkler head from rotation duringthe fertilizingaction.

glnother object of my invention is the provisiono-f a-novel andeconomical sprinkler assembly ,of the class described including astamped .metalbase, a stamped metal. container for fertilizerpa simplehose-connecting {.fiqmeans forclamping thebase and container ,to getller' and quick detachable stamped metal Y cover ,liavmg a sprinkler headrotatably m unt d. he einther objects andadvantages ofmy inven- 5 tionwill appearmore fully from the follow ingdescription and *from theaccompanying drawings which similar characters of reference indicatesimilar parts throughout the several views. I

Fig. 1 is a plan view sprinkler.

Fig..2' is a partial elevational View of the same, showing :thequick-detachable cover. Fig.3 isa detailed crossrseetional view" of :$5oneof thenozzles on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Figa l isfan elevationalcross-sectional view ofn1y sprinkleronthe line 1- l of Fig. 1. :Fig. 5is .adetailedcross-sectional view on of my improved the line .5,- "5vofIFig it looking in the. direc- 521 w a Qith ar a s- 1927. SerialNo.198,023.

-Reiferring to-Fig. 1, 1 0 indicates in its entirety my sprinkler,which. comprises a reservoir or receptaclell, a base 12, water supplyconduit 13, acover14, and a rotatable prinkler head 15. i

T he receptacle 11 may consist of a stamped sheet metal receptacle,preferably cylindrical inform, and having its upper end open as at 1Sandits lower end formed with an aperture 17.. Thebottom 18 of thereceptacle 11 may slope upward toward the aperture 17, beingsubstantially conical in shape in order that material placed within thereceptacle 11 will ten-d to fall away from the a'perture 17 which isemployed for connection to the water sup- P 3- v 'lhehase 12 mayconsistof a substantially cup-sl'iaped stamped metal member having anupper-surface 19 which is complementary to the conical exterior surfaceof the bottom 18 of the receptacle 11. V e

' In order to provide a flat surface forthe engagement of washers, thecentral portion 20 of the bottom 18 and the central portion21 of thebase12 may be flattened adjacent the aperture-17. The base 12 islikewise provided with an aperture 22 adapt-ed to register with theaperture 17 andwith a downwardly extending flange 23 adapted to form asupport for the sprinkler.

The flange 23 of the base 12 may be cut away as at 2 1-to formv asubstantially 'U- shaped aperture in the base forthe purposeofreceivingthe, water conduit 13. The conduit 13 may consist of a pieceof metal tubing of suifticient length to extend. from out- SlClG lZlIGaperture2 l to the middle of the base where the conduit is bent up atsubstantially right angles, its end 25 extending through the apertures.17 and 22 of the base and receptacle. The opposite end 26 of theconduit 13 may be formed with an integral annuiar flange 2? adapted toretain an interna'lly threaded bushing-28 having an inwardly extendingflange 29.

The bushing 28 may be provided with a washer 8O resting against theflange 27 and adaptedwith the bushing 28to form a watertight'connectionwith a hose or other source of water' supply. The inner end 25 of thearea sleeve.

' conduit 13 may be threaded as at 31 and proed upon the end of theconduit. The con- I duit 13 may then be located in aperture 24 of thebase 12 with the end 25'passing through the aperture 22 and thereceptacle 11 having been placed upon the base 12 with the aperture 17over the end 25, the washer 34 may be placed on the end 25 and the nut32 screwed into place clamping the bottom of the receptacle and the base12 together between the nuts and washers.

The receptacle 11 may be provided with a stamped sheet metal cover 14 ofsubstantially cup shape with depending annular flange 36 adapted to fitclosely about the cylindrical top of the receptacle 11. The top 37 ofthe cover, 14 is preferably slightly conical so as tobe adapted to drainany water falling thereon or issuing from an equalizing conduit 63,further to be described, and the cover 14 is preferably provided with anupwardly projecting annular flange 38 surrounding a central aperture 39.

The central aperture 39 may be threaded to receive a supporting sleeve40 and the flange 38 is adapted to provide an extended for threadedengagement with said The depending annular flange 36 is provided with anupwardly extending slot 41 terminating in a laterally extending slot 42which slopes slightly upward. The breadth of the slot 42 is slightlylarger than the breadth of lug 43 supported upon the side of thecontainer 11 in position to be received in said slot.

shown) is provided with similar slots 41,

42, and the opposite side of the receptacle with a similar lug 43. Anynumber of lugs and slots may thus be provided, being so located that thelugs register simultaneously with their respective slots when the coveris put in place. As the slot 42 slopes slightly upward, when the cover14 is rotated counterclock-wise upon the receptacle in Fig. 2, the

' lower edge of the slot 42 will cam against the The lug 43 may consistsof stamped projection upon the receptacle 11 lug 43 drawing the covertightly upon the re ceptacle 11 and forming a water-tight closure.

In order to carry the sprinkler 10 from place to place and to facilitatethe removal of the quick-detachable cover 14, my sprinkler is preferablyprovided with a pair of handles 45 and 46. The handles 45 and 46 mayconsist of stamped metal members having a rounded exterior surface 47 atthe middle and both ends 48 and 49.

The substantially parallel lateral flanges 50 and 51 may be providedwith aligned apertures 52 adapted to receive a pin 53 for pivotallyconnecting the handles 45 and 46 to the brackets 54. The brackets 54"maycomprise stamped sheet metal members having a flat web 55 and a pair ofupwardly projecting flanges 56 and 57. The flanges 56-and 57 may besubstantially triangular in shape',tapering from the upper edge 58 ofthe brackets to a width substantially equal to that of the flanges 50ans 51 at the rounded end 59.

The flanges 56 and 57 may extend beyond the web 55, the latterterminating at the edge of the cover 14 and web 55 may be secured to thecover by a plurality of rivets 60 or other convenient fastening means.The projecting ends of the flanges 56 and 57 may be provided withaligned apertures 61 adapted to register with the apertures 52 and thepin 53 may pass through the apertures 52 and 61 and be riveted at eachend to permanently connect the handles 45 to the brackets 54'.

The structure of the brackets and handles upon each side of the covermay be identical and the handles are preferably located at diametricallyopposite points. The apertures 52 in the handles'45 and 46 arepreferably located slightly below the upper ends 48 of the handles sothat said ends project slightly above the brackets'54. It will thus beobserved that when the handles 45 and 46 are pivoted outward on theirbrackets, the edges 62 of the flanges 50 and 51 at the upper end of thehandles are adapted to come into 'contact with the web 55 of thebracket, limiting the upward movement of the handles 45'and 46. Thehandles 45 and 46 may thus be adapted to projectoutwardly atsubstantially right angles to the receptacle 11 in position tofacilitate either the liftin and transportation of the receptacle or theuse of said handles for rotating the cover 14 upon the receptacle toeffect a watertight closure. .1

The sprinkler head 15 comprises a cast metal member having a pair oftubular arms 64 and 65 projecting inopposite directions from thesubstantially spherical juncture 66. The juncture 66 of the arms isformed with a downwardly eitending annular flange 67 having a threadedaperture 68'connecting with the arms 64 and 65. The flange'67 may bemade thicker as at 69 being provided with a fiatlowelysurface. 70to;provide a:;-thrust 1 1 bearing for the.sprinklerhead.

,The sprinklershe'ad 1 5 may of course be metal members of substantiallyY shape hav- 7 ing a tubularconduit71connecting with a, supportingconduit 75, preferably at anangle of substantially 45. The supportingconduit 75 of the nozzles may be provided with a threaded counter-bore76 adapted to receive the threaded end 72 of the sprinkler arms and thedirection in whic-lrthe-nozzles pointimay be adjusted by rotatingthenozzle point on its threadedend 76.

V The tubular-conduit 7 at of the nozzle may be provided with aninwardly extending flange-7 7 having an outer surface 78 which isslightly conical and the flange 77 may also have a slightlygcoi'ncaledge 79-form1ng a i elatively sharp-nozzle aperture 80. The con duit 7 1of the nozzle may be threaded below the supporting conduit 75 as at 81to receive a threaded stem 82 of a nozzle valve 83 and the lower end ofthe conduit 74 may becounter-bored as at 84. Thenozzle valve 83 maycomprise an elongated member,threaded to be received in the threadedportion 81 having a relatively narrow stem 83 extending from saidthreaded portion to valve 85. The valve 85 comprises a-discilikeenlargement of the stem 83 having a sharp outer edge 86 and an obtuseconical forward; surface 87 the size of the disc being such that it willjust pass the nozzle aperture 80.

v The opposite end ofthe nozzle valve. supportsa threaded portion 88provided with a locknut 89 and thevalve: terminates in a justing thenozzle valve. 5 Itwill thus be obvious that, the nozzle valve 8.5.may beadjusted to any desired positionin the nozzle aperture locknut 89engagingwthe end of the con-' 80. soqthat the nozzle is adapted to.furnish a .wide variety of types of streams varying from, a: full streamto a fine spray and the valve may be fixed in adjusted positionby theduit 7 4. r

The nozzles 91 and 92 may also be turned toward each other insubstantial alignment with the arms 64 and. insuch mannerthat fusingeach. other to :uniformly spray the fertilizer in all directions aboutthe sprinkler.

" The sprinkler head 15 is supported upon a tubular shaft 93 havingathreaded upper end 94: adaptedto be received in the aperture 68,

and having alowerend 95 which is closed and: turned down: as at 96.11The: tubular. shaft 11 may be provided with a plurality .ofla-tera]ports 97. near its lower end and the bushing 40 may beprovided with aplurality of-ports 98 located substantially opposite the ports 97.

- The size of the tubular shaft 98 is considerably less than theinternal diameter of the sleeve 40 thereby providing an annular chamber99 between these members and the sleeve 40 is threaded at each end toreceive bearings .100 and l01 for the tubular shaft 98; The bearing 100may comprise a bushing which has a flat upper surface 102, a cylindricalinner surface 103 and a threaded outer surface 104 adapted to bereceived in the internally threaded end of the bushing 40.. The

also providedwith a downwardly projecting threaded end 106 adapted tosupport the cap 107. The reduced end 96 of the tubular shaft 93 isprovided with an annular groove 108 of substantially semi circular crosssection and the reduced end 96 is adapted to receive a retaining ring109 of suflicient size to bear against an end 110 of the bearing 101.The

retaining ring 109 fits snugly upon the reduced end 96 and is providedwith an inner annular groove 111 of substantially the cross section of aquarter of a circle.

It will thus be observedthat the groove Y108 and 111 form a closedgroove of substantially the cross section of approximatelythree-quarters of a circle in which a number of curved retaining pins112 and 113 may be received. The retaining pins 112 and 113 are shortlengths of wire of a size and shaadapted to fit within the groove 108and 111, eachextending one-half way about the reduced end 96.

The cap 107 comprises a substantially cup shaped member internallythreaded at its upper end to be received upon the end 106 of the bearing101. The cap 107 is provided with an aperture 114 in its bottom andextends ing from the aperture 114 to an aperture 115 in the cover is aconduit 63 in the form of a curved length of tubing. As the cap 107 andcover 14 are fixed relative to each other the tubing 63 may be solderedor riveted in place in the cap 107 and cover 14 when the sprinkler isfinally assembled.

The tubular shaft 93 is provided within the chamber 99 with a gasket 116at each end of said chamber the gasket being held in place by metalwashers 117 and a helical compression spring 118 tensioned between saidwashers. The sleeve 40 also supports at its upper end aninternallythrea-ded collar .119

having-anupper edge 120;adapted to be forced into engagement-with thesprinkler head to fix said sprinkler head from rotai 122 may be providedwith an outwardly extending annular flange 123 adapted to fit against alower surface of the cover 14 and secured in place by a. metal ring 124and a plurality of screws 125 passing through said ring and screenflange into the cover 14.

The assembly of the parts of the sprinkler head and cover is as follows:

The sleeve 40 may be threaded into the cover 14 from its lower side tothe position shown in Figure 4 and secured in place by a locknut 126after which the tubular shaft 93 may be firmly screwed into the aperture68 of the sprinkler head. The upper bearing 100 may then be screwed intothe sleeve 40 and the collar 119 threaded upon the upper end of thesleeve 40. The tubular shaft 93 of the sprinkler head may then beinserted in the bearing 100 and the gasket 116, washer 117, spring 118,washer 117 and gasket 116 placed upon the shaft 93 in the sleeve. Thelower bearing 101 may then be screwed in place compressing the spring118 which forces the gasket 116 into engagement with the bearings 100and 101 forming a water tight closure about the shaft 93 at the upperand lower ends of the chamber 99.

The lower bearing 101 may be screwed in to a distance slightly greaterthan that shown in Figure 4 and the retaining ring 109 placed on the endof the reduced end 96. In this position the groove 111 of the retainingring will be slightly above the groove 108 on the reduced end so thatthe curved reta1ning pins 7 112 and 113 may be inserted. If theretaining ring 109 is then slid downward into the position of Fig. 4 theretaining pins 112 and 113 will be held in place by the retaining ring109. Conversely the curved pins 112 and 113 will resist the downwardmotion of theretaining ring 109 and the bearing 101 may be screwed outto the position'of Figure 4 engaging the retaining ring. It will thus beobserver that the grooves and retaining pins furnish a simple andconveniently assembled thrust bearing for the lower end of the tubularshaft 93. The cap 107 may then be threaded in place upon the lower endof the bearing 101 and the conduit 63 soldered or riveted in place.

The operation of my sprinkler is as follows:

The cover 14 may be easily and quickly removed by grasping the handles45 and 46 and turning in a clockwise direction and a brick of solublefertilizer may be placed in the receptacle 11. For this purpose I preferto use a brick formed by compressing together a quantity of salts knownas Urea and enclosed in a coverof waxed paper or tin foil which isperforated in order to provide limited access of the water to the saltsand to delay the dissolution of the salts by the water.

The fertilizer will thus be slowly dissolved over a considerable periodof time during whichthe sprinkler may operate to spread the fertilizeruniformly by means of the water over the surrounding area of ground. Theslightly sloping bottom of the container insures the location of thefertilizer in the receptacle in such manner that it will not close theconduit 18.

After the cover 14 has been replaced and the water turned on, thereceptacle 11 will be filled with water dissolving the fertilizer,passing through the screen 122 in at the ports 98 to the annular chamber99, thence through the ports 97 to the tubular shaft 93 thence up saidshaft into the sprinkler arms 64 and 65 out of the nozzles 91 and 92.The nozzles 91 and 92 may be adjusted as shown in Figure 1 so that thereaction of the water issuing from the nozzles will causethe sprinklerhead to rotate throwing the Water backward from the nozzles and outwarddue to centrifugal action, or the nozzles may be adjusted as previouslydescribed pointing toward each other,

the streams striking each other and dilfu s; ing in all directions. Thecollar 119 provides a means for fixing the sprinkler head againstrotation by simply turning the collar upward on its threads intoengagement with the surface 120. The screen 122 prevents the access ofundissolved fertilizer to the sprinkler head so that large particles offertilizer cannot become clogged in the sprinkler head or nozzles.

lVhen the reservoir 11 becomes filled with water under pressure, therewill of course be water pressure upon all parts of the sprinkler head.For this purpose I prefer to provide lateral ports 97 and 98 so that thepressure of the water upon the tubular shaft 93 may be balanced axially;and the cap 107 is adapted to enclose the lower end of the shaft 93protecting it from water pressure within the reservoir 11. WVhile thewater in the tubular shaft 93 exerts an upward pressure upon thesprinkler head this water likewise exerts a downward pressure upon thelower inner end 126 of the tubular shaft 93.

I find, however, that when'such a sprinkler is employed for a longperiod of time that a certain amount of water will penetrate past thelower gasket 116 into the cap 107 and that when this occurs the waterpressure will build up in the cap 107 to practically the same amount asthe water pressure within the reservoir 11 and the friction of rotationupon the sprinkler head 15 may be greatly increased-thereby.:"I-therefore'provide the cap: 107' withf-lmeans for equalizing. thepressure within the cap 107: with an air :pressure-outside thereceptacle comprising the conduit 63 extending from the cap 1'07 to theexterior ofthe cover 14:. The conduit63 permits any water which leakspast intothe cap 107 to1escape to-the outside of the receptacletherewithin thecap lO7..-. v Y

:It will thus v be observed that I have provided: a=sprinkler-having a.receptacle in which a fertilizer 1 may be placed. for dissolu I tien-anddistribution by the sprinkler head.

*carried by saidi receptacle and that. my

sprinklenhead.isIproVided with means for substantiallyequalizing theaxial pressures.

of the water'upon the same. My sprinkler is also provided with a quickdetachable cov- '-er giving. access to the receptacleifor placingfertilizer therein, a screen for preventing fertilizer from clogging thesprinkler head and nozzles and my sprinkler comprises a simple andeconomical assembly of stamped metal units which may be cheaplymanufactured and easily assembled.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of myinvention many modifications may be made without depart- *ing from thespirit of the invention and I do not wish to be limited from the precisedetails of construction, but desire to avail myself of all changeswithin the scope of appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters between said tubular member and said covering means,resulting from the leakage of fluid by said tubular member.

2. In a sprinkler, the combination of a receptacle, with a sprinklerhead rotatably mounted in said receptacle, a tubular member carried bysaid receptacle, bushings in either end of said tubular member, theinner ends of said bushings being spaced apart for journalling saidsprinkler head, said tubular member having lateral ports in opencommunication with the interior of said receptacle and with the spacebetween said bushings, said sprinkler head having a closed tube withlateral ports, in communication with said space between said bushings,said closed tube being rotatably mounted in said bushings and extendingtherethrough and a cap by preventing-the-building up of pressure;

for closing the inner member.

end of said'tubular 3. In a sprinkler, the combination of a receptacle,with a sprinkler head rotatably mounted insaid receptacle, a tubularmember carried by said receptacle, bushings in either end of saidtubular member, the inner ends of said bushings being spaced apart forjournalling said sprinkler head, said tubular member having lateralports in open. communicationpwith the interior of said receplngs, saidsprinkler head having a closedtube tacle and with the space between'saidbushwith lateral ports, in. communication with v said space between saidbushings,said closed tube being rotatably mounted in said bushings andextending therethrough, a cap for closing the inner'end of said tubularmember, and a cond'uit leading from saidcap to the;

' exterior of said cover.

"so T 4:. In a sprinkler, the combination of areceptacle,- withasprinkler headrotatably' mounted in said, receptacle, a tubular .mem-

ber carried by said receptacle, bushings in either end of said tubularmember, the inner ends-oi? said bushingsbeing-spaced apart for,journalling'said sprinkler head, said tubular memberhaving lateralportsrin open com munlcation with the lIltGllOPOf said recepmole andwiththe space between said bush-' ings, said sprinkler-head having aclosed tube with lateral ports, 'inc'ommunicationwith said space betweensaid bushings, said closed i tube being rotatably mounted in saidbushings and extending therethrough,j packing about said closed tubeadjacent each bushing, I

aspring tensionedbetween said packing, a

cap for closing the inner end of said tubularmember anda conduit leadingfrom said ca to the exterior'of said cover; 1 I

5, In a sprinkler, the combination of receptacle, with a sprinkler-headrotatably 'mounted in said receptacle, atubular member carried by saidreceptacle, bushings. in,

eitherend of said tubular member, the inner endsof said bushings being.spacedapart for j ournalling. said sprinkler head, said tubular memberhaving lateral ports in open communication with the interior; of saidrecep tacleand with the space between said bush- 115" ings, saidsprinkler head having a closed tube with lateral ports, in communicationwith said space between said bushings, said closed; tube beingrotatablytmounted in saidibushings and extending therethrough, packingabout said closed tube adjacent each bushing, a spring tensionedbetweensaid packing, a cap for closing the inner end'of saidtubularmember, a conduit leading from said cap to the exterior of said coverand a screen carried by said cover below said sprinkler head..

6. In a sprinkler, the combination of a receptacle, with arsprinklerhead adjustably mounted in a wall'of said receptacle, com

prising a tubular member detachablymountr.

ed therein and extending therethrough, spaced bushings in the ends ofsaid tubular member, a closed tube with lateral ports mounted in saidtubular member and said bushings, ports in said tubular member withinsaid receptacle and communicating with the ports in, said closed tube, ajuncture rotatably supported on one of said bushings, and forming asupport for said closed tube, nozzle means mounted on said juncture, a

cap on the other of said bushings for closing.

8. In a sprinkler, the combination of a receptable adapted to containfluid under pressure, with a sprinkler head rotatably mountedina wall ofthe receptacle, said head comprising a tubular shaft terminating in andcommunicating with said receptacle, a fixed sleeve surrounding sa1dshaft, means on saidsleeve covering the inner end of said tubular shaft,and a vent leading from the space between said shaft and said coveringmeans.

9. In a sprinkler, the combination of a receptacle adapted to containfluid under pressure, with a sprinkler head rotatably mounted in andextending therefrom, said head comprising a tubular shaft having itsinner end closed and provided with lateral ports communicatingwith saidreceptacle, the in-' ner end of said shaft being completely surroundedby the fluid in said container, and means for preventing the action offluid pressure on the lower end of said shaft.

10. In a sprinkler, the combination of a receptacle adapted to containfluid under presmeans for substantially equalizing the axial pressure offluid on said head, and a vent leading from said cover to a pointoutside of said container.

12. In a sprinkler, the combination of a stamped metal base having asubstantially frusto-conical downwardly and outwardly sloping upperportion and a centrally located bore with a sheet metal receptaclehaving a complementary base and a registering bore, a pipe couplingprojecting laterally from said base and having an upwardly projectingthreaded portion, and threaded members on said pipe for securing saidbase and receptacle together, forming a sprinkler reservoir having adownwardly sloping settling surface located about a central inletopenlng.

In witness whereof, I hereunto'subscribe my name this 8th day of June,1927.

i MICHAEL W. MOARDLE.

sure, with a sprinkler head rotatably mount 'ed in and extendingtherefrom, said, head comprising a tubular shaft communicating with saidreceptacle, the inner end of which is completely surrounded by the fluidin said container, a cover preventing the action of fluid pressure onthe lower end of said shaft, and means for substantially equalizing theaxial pressure of fluid on said head. i

' 11. In a sprinkler, the combination of a receptacle adapted to containfluid under pressure, with a sprinkler head rotatably mounted in andextending therefrom, said head comprising a tubular shaft communicatingwith said receptacle, the inner end of which is completely surrounded bythe fluid in said container, a cover preventing the action of fluidpressure on the lower end of said shaft,

